Category Archives: #awriter’slife

Promoting My Book: A Day at the Bookstores

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Yesterday was the first day I visited bookstores to introduce myself and ask for them to carry Under The Autumn Moon and schedule in store appearances.

I had my book, a bookmark and a promotional flyer to provide the decision-makers. I went to two bookstores. One asked if I’d been to their website and registered my book. “Yes.”

“Good. That’s the first step because we have more than one hundred authors apply every month.”

“That’s why I also wanted to stop by in person to introduce myself.” (hoping you’ll like me)

The second bookstore was more disappointing as they couldn’t find my book in their system. I googled it for them and showed it was in their system.

“Hmm. Well, let me give you the email for the person who can help you better than I can.”

On and on.

Writing a book is the easy part. Promoting it is rough.

This morning though, I was fine-tuning, probably for the seventeenth time, my next book. I felt very good about my edits and realized I was done. It is ready to send to my editor and publishing partner.

Then I felt tremendous sadness. The loss of not being able to sit every morning and listen to what my characters want me to write about their lives. We have completed that part.

Now I need to do all the things that have to be accomplished to share their story with the world.

Already the next lead character is whispering in my ear, “Can you please tell me story now?”

Finding Balance: The Writer’s Dilemma

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I’m exhausted by noon most days, just like my cat, Panda, pictured above.

By noon most days, I’ve been on my bike to the nearby cafe, checked the news (briefly), posted on social media promoting Under The Autumn Moon and then settled in to work on my next book (which was actually drafted before I ever thought of Under The Autumn Moon).

This pattern actually worked very well with Autumn Moon and the book flowed easily.

It’s not flowing as well with this story and it’s because I feel I’m on the hamster wheel of marketing/promoting, marketing/promoting…

The energy is completely different. I’m not living with my characters, I’m watching them. I’m thinking how they will be attractive to readers rather than just capturing their story. I’ve apologized to these “people”multiple times. They have trusted me with their tale and I keep saying, “But what about if I do this and change that.”

Tori (my son’s beloved) told me I need to find a cabin in the woods and sequester myself. A sleep, eat, walk, write pattern sounds appealing, but I’m not confident I would stick to it. A strange doubt because I’m very goal oriented and driven to meet deadlines.

As I write this, I keep glancing at the clock as it ticks toward 3 PM and I think how I haven’t done any exercise today, just a couple of short walks which don’t count as exercise, just movement.

I’m still thrilled to have published a book now, along with some previous poems and short fiction.

I just want to cloak myself in my writer’s world again.

Where to Find Betheny Lynn Reid’s Under the Autumn Moon

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under the autumn moo_audiobook

So excited my first novel officially arrives on October 21st. Find it at bookstores (you may have to have them order) or on Amazon and Kindle.

Please search using Betheny Lynn Reid. I also show up as bethenylreid or bethenylreid, writer.

There is a poet with my name only she uses an “a” in the first name.

Please help me elevate my name in searches by using Betheny Lynn Reid and bethenylreid.

Thank you.

Under The Autumn Moon (arriving at your bookstore October 21st)

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When bestselling author Lexi Maxwell meets legendary guitarist Paddy May in a quiet London bookstore, she doesn’t expect her teenage crush to be soft-spoken, holding her latest book and extending his left hand to shake, knowing she doesn’t have a right.

That single, deliberate touch sparks more than just a connection. It awakens something electric. What begins as a morning coffee becomes a day-long walk, a moonlit dance, and a night of aching closeness neither of them wants to end.

Lexi lives a life of word and solitude- famous for her novels, but not her face. Paddy has been running from fame’s glare, numbing himself with noise and excess. But in Lexi’s presence, he finds something he thought he’d lost- desire, purpose and maybe even a little magic.

To stay together, they’ll have to fight for something rare and sacred: a love powerful enough to burn through fame, grief and the ghosts of the past. A love written in the stars- and sealed Under The Autumn Moon.

Award-winning poet, essayist and author Betheny Lynn Reid has written a lyrical, mystical, erotic story that reminds us to always take the first step toward love.